Canadian Influencer Questions Indian City Comparisons, Bengaluru's 'Silicon Valley' Tag

A Canadian tech influencer, Caleb Friesen, has sparked a debate by questioning the common practice of comparing Indian cities and landmarks to foreign destinations, including Bengaluru's 'Silicon Valley of India' tag. Friesen argues these comparisons, while often well-intentioned, frame Indian places as imitations rather than unique entities. He suggests this habit reflects a deeper, internalized colonial mindset. Friesen also criticized Indian film industries for adopting Hollywood-inspired names and proposed that cities like Bengaluru should embrace names rooted in their own geography and history, citing China's Shenzhen as an example of original branding.